Nov 20, 2019 then i attended a meeting one friday night, largely attended by people rumored to be the graduates of chicago aa boot camp the dreaded residences. Ready about the fourth step of alcoholics anonymous, which requires a very careful personal inventory of. Big book workshop handouts and forms steps 10 and 11 fourth step forms fourth step inventory forms resentment, fears, sex, harms other than sex. In the fourth step of aa, it states that you must make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself. The big book alcoholics anonymous outlines how it works. As a result of the application of the twelve steps as contained precisely in the big book of alcoholics anonymous, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening in 1988.
This simply means taking an honest look at all of your good and bad character traits. We wal low in this messy bog, often getting a misshapen and pain ful pleasure out of it. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aas 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa. Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this but does not suggest writing anything down. To be able to start on this step, the previous three steps must of. I listed my resentments on paper, but not necessarily in chronological order. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book.
Fourth column instructions 1 read the big book from p. Big book awakening 4th step workshop resentment examples and worksheets 122006 columns 14 to download the most current versions of these worksheets go to. Alcoholics anonymous step 4 guides us to make a searching and. The fourth step of alcoholics anonymous sober nation. Then i attended a meeting one friday night, largely attended by people rumored to be the graduates of chicago aa boot camp the dreaded residences. Step four of aas twelvestep program of recovery is infamously the scary one. See inventory guide sheet on the next page to use as a guide while writing. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. If temperamentally we are on the depressive side, we are apt to be swamped with guilt and selfloathing. Though our decisionstep 3 was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once fast followed by a. Our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book. I started working the steps out of the big book in 1998, with a step study sponsor and a supportive big book group. Step four made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Step four prayer freedom from resentment step 4 of the 12.
These step study guides and worksheets have been used by thousands of aas, nas, alanons, oa overeaters, cas, gas and other 12 step recovery program members that use the 12 steps as instructed in the book, alcoholics. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers. If men and women didnt exert themselves to be secure in their persons, made no effort to harvest food or construct shelter, there would be no survival. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. We have laid out the 4 th step inventory here so that it follows the big book.
May 15, 2016 the fourth step, like the whole of recovery, is a process not an event. Twelve step prayers spiritual alcoholics anonymous cleveland. Alcoholics anonymous programs aa promises 12step faq drug abuse programs the first step aa big book. Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than 100 of men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. I have to write down all of my negative character traits. A fourth study guides are distilled right out of the big book of alcoholics anonymous.
These step study guides and worksheets have been used by thousands of aas, nas, alanons, oa overeaters, cas, gas and other 12 step recovery program members that use the 12 steps as instructed in the book, alcoholics anonymous. Fourth step inventory introduction to the 4th step. Aa 4th step worksheet joe and charlie as well as joe. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The fourth step, like the whole of recovery, is a process not an event. A member asked me about the meaning of a sentence on page 25 of the bigbook, i. These step study guides and worksheets have been used by thousands of aa s, nas, alanons, oa overeaters, cas, gas and other 12 step recovery program members that use the 12 steps as instructed in the book, alcoholics. The worksheets were created by using the precise instructions in the big book to make taking the fourth step as easy and simple as possible. The big book holds within it the central thesis and ideas of alcohol anonymous and the 12 step approach.
To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous. If men and women didnt exert themselves to be secure in their persons, made no effort to. This the sponsor promptly proves by talking freely. Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. If you are working the 4th step, the best way to do it is the way the big book explains. As we read in the preface to the fourth edition of the big book. The fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny.
Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The step 4 prayer from how it works page 66 of the big book. The big book coverage of step 4 is about being honest and admitting to ones faults, weaknesses, defects. The big book explains that we must make a list that includes all our resentments we have and have ever had, an account of sexual conduct and our fears. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous step four has prepared you for step five, and by finding the courage to overcome that fear of rejection or the shame of your confession, you experience honesty on a deeper level than in your first step of admission, and you break the pattern of. This guide has been prepared not as a replacement for or interference to our basic texts the big book and 12 and 12 but as a companion for the ideas and directions presented there. Known as the big book, it is in its fourth edition and is widely circulated through out the world. This is also a guide and format for use or application of a. Step four instructions made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves a stop set aside prayer. Everything contained in these sheets is directly from the big book alcoholics anonymous, there is no opinion, just fact. When you take inventory, you take notes or write down all that you have on hand.
Apr 07, 2020 each step addresses a different need that is common to many who struggle with alcoholism, and the fourth step involves taking a personal inventory of strengths and weaknesses of character. When you are first confronted with the concept of writing down your faults and past. Originally introduced in the big book of alcoholics anonymous, the fourth step states that we made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. First published in 1939, the aa big book sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the aa stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. Steps by the big book step 5 steps by the big book. Everything contained in the fourth step inventory worksheets is directly from the book alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous step four has prepared you for step five, and by finding the courage to overcome that fear of rejection or the shame of your confession, you experience honesty on a deeper level than in your first step of admission, and you break the pattern of denial that often plagues those suffering with alcoholism. George b was a practicing dentist for 47 years and is now a graduate student in a masters degree program for addiction counseling. When that happens, our great natural assets, the instincts, have turned. The fourth step of alcoholics anonymous is an excellent example of the apprehension that you can feel in trying to make a breakthrough in your sobriety. These are the original and official 4th step guides and work sheetsused in the dallas b. Aa big book 4th step april 10, 2011 doublewinners step 4, steps, tools of the process 12steps, aa, alanon, alcholism, alcoholics anonymous, big book, fourth step, inventory, resentment, searching, step 4 leave a comment.
Fourth step inventory these fourth step worksheets use the wording from alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 6371. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aa s 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa. The 4th step inventory is perhaps one of the most wellknown pieces of twelvestep programs. The aa cleveland district office has put together the following fourth step guide and was taken directly from the big book of alcoholics anonymous. When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this. Alcoholics anonymous programs aa promises 12 step faq drug abuse programs the first step aa big book. Ask for help with inventory and truth in the morning, night and before writing with a prayer like this one taken from the big book. Understanding step 4 of the 12 steps verywell mind.
Fourth step inventory introduction to the 4th step inventory. When the time was right for me, it seemed as if the pen in my hand had a direct connection to my mind, and the memories of a lifetime just poured out onto the page. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory youtube. For more information about aa and the 12 steps, visit the aa website. Aa big book fourth edition big book alcoholics anonymous.
Alcoholics anonymous big book audio read aloud youtube. Critique of chapter 5 of the big book step 4 aa agnostica. This format came from a group of men, who could not get sober by just going to open aa meetings. Alcoholics anonymous also known as the big book in recovery circles sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease.
Bedevilments versus the promises spontaneous wisdom of aa members step 4 some helpful thoughts 4th step inventory step 4 resentment and turn around prayers step 4 harms done others. It can be given to a newcomer so they can fill it out on their own. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. All page numbers in this fourth step inventory workshop. Alcoholics anonymous the big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. A woman stormed in, angry at some event that had just occurred, and made her comment, which included this. By writing first, then doing the 5 th step we can look at resentment, fear and harm individually, the way it says in the big book. We asked his protection and care with complete abandon. Aa speaker turn our will and our lives over to the care of god new 20 duration. Big book goals step 1 emotional sobriety step 2 proposition exercise step 3 prayer 3rd step vision for your life exercise 12 reasons we slip by bill w. The fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous, affectionately known as the big book, includes twentyfour new stories and continues to pass on aas message of hope and recovery to millions.
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